Simple Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe, Curried or Italian-Style

Roasted butternut squash is one of my favorite side dishes during the cooler time of the year. It complements just about any vegan dinner very nicely. So today I’m sharing my simple roasted butternut squash recipe that can be made two ways: curried or Italian-style.

Butternut squash is naturally on the sweeter side, and the flavor and texture falls somewhere in between sweet potatoes and pumpkin. However, it’s less starchy than sweet potatoes (not that I’m afraid of starches!), and I find it tastier than pumpkin – I’m sure that a lot of you will agree with me here.

A lot of us stay away from butternut squash because it’s quite hard to peel and cut up. Some people buy pre-cut butternut squash in grocery stores to avoid the drama of having to chop it themselves, but we all know that prepped vegetables are more expensive to buy, plus you often get less food for more money. If you follow the directions I’ve outlined in the recipe below, you’ll prep a whole butternut squash by yourself in minutes like it’s no big deal.

Depending on what else is for dinner, I use different spices on the squash to achieve flavor that complements the rest of the meal. Curried butternut squash goes well with Indian lentil or bean stews, and a combo of Italian spices like rosemary, oregano and thyme works great with just about anything: black bean burgers, baked tofu, veggie croquettes, collard greens, etc.

While I’ve profiled 2 sets of spices in this recipe for Indian- and Italian-style butternut squash, you can change up the spices to your liking – this surely is the dish that allows lots of experimenting.

Yield: 4 servings

Roasted Butternut Squash, Indian- or Italian-Style

Butternut squash is a tasty and nutritious winter squash that can be prepared in various ways. Serve it roasted with Indian or Italian spices to complement other dishes on your dinner table.

Spices for Italian Version:

Equipment:

9x13 ovenproof baking dish

Aluminum foil

Instructions

To make peeling and cutting butternut squash easier: Rinse the squash and pat dry. With a fork, pierce a few holes in its skin. Microwave for 2 min on high. Let rest for 5-10 minutes (it can be very hot inside after microwaving).

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400° F. Once the squash is cool enough to handle, cut it in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds. Peel the skin off of each half (it may still be a little hard to peel). Cut up each peeled half into ¾- to 1-inch cubes.

Lightly spray a 9x13 baking dish with olive oil or avocado cooking spray. Add the cubed butternut squash. Sprinkle with all of the spices from the curried OR the Italian combos, add salt to taste. Toss to mix, spray with the cooking spray and toss again.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake covered for 15 min at 400°F, then take the foil off and bake for 10 min more, or until fork-tender. Just before serving, taste and adjust spices or salt if needed. Enjoy!

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Do you use different types of winter squash a lot this time of the year? What is your favorite way to prepare butternut squash?

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About Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Alina first made a switch to a vegan diet in 2013 to optimize her athletic performance as a marathon runner. Being vegan eventually opened her eyes on the issues of animal welfare, environmental protection, human rights and feminism. Alina hopes that her blog will help its readers on their path to making this world a better place.

Welcome to Vegan Runner Eats! My name is Alina, and my goal is to show you that leading a vegan lifestyle can be easy, healthy and enjoyable. I share delicious plant-based recipes, cooking tips, insights on vegan parenting, traveling, and staying fit as a mom. See the most popular posts from the blog over here.